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Ruth's Romance

Ruth's Romance image
Parent Issue
Day
12
Month
January
Year
1883
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

CHAl'TKlt V. About a week aft er Ruth went away, Mrs. Nugent was surprised by the receipt of ii letter l'rom Aunt Kachel. "I want to ask a question of you," shcwrote. "To make it elear to you why I ask this question, I must explaiu wïiat my plans werc wlirn I invited Ruth to visit me. Artliur Ford, the son oi my oldest frienil, is hore, I had lioped that an attaehment would spring up between him and Ruth. In that case, I inteuded tolcavo all that I have to thein. I spoke to Ruth about it, and she seemed so distressed, deelaring that it could not be, and yet asnuring me tbat she was iinder no engagement, that I am at a loss to understand vhat her objcctions are. She llkee Arthur very much she tcllsme, andl know that he Hkes her ; and I am confideut that bc would be willing to help earry tmt my plans. I inlVrred t hut there was sonïe attaehment existing ou lier part, about whk-h she did uot feel at. liberty totell. You must know, if there is. I am in the dark, and ask tor intonnatiou. Teil me all you know about it. Ruth will not know that I have written to you, and your reply will be eonsidered contideiitial. Rachel Nloext." Mrs. Nugent .sat and thouglit forsonu' timp alter slic liacl read her sistcr-inlaw's letter. At last the chance h&d como for Kutli to rea]) a beafifit from Kachel Nugent1 8 wealth. She had only to say the word and ]ractically the wnole propcrly was Ihts. lf she were to do this, Mrs. Nugent knew that Ilutli's liberality would enable lier to carry oiU her cnerished jjlans of living in a ditlerent stylo froin that whieli nec-essity lied them down to at present. 'Í understand how it is," Ruth'ü Step mother saiil. tappmg the letter angrily against the tal)h. 'She ïefuses Ibis splendid ehanee because of this silly lassiOn for Kobert Haviland. U' he (¦ou ld be got out of the way!' Mrs. Nugent sat and brooded over the matter. She knewRuth well enongh to know that she would not marry Ibis Arthur Ford while her attaehment for Kobert Haviland lasted. She lóved Kobert, that was plain to see. Slu epected to marry him. 'I think I understand why she could not teil her aunt lurw the ease stands,' said Mrs. Nugent. 'Ifno engagement cists, she does not liko to tatk about a uossiblo marriago with soine one who las liever talked of marriage with her. Ruth would hardly do that. " I know her ¦oll ouough to bo suré of it.' Before Mra. Nugentliail answercd her rter-iü'law's letter, oöe oatrie from luth. She spoke of Arthur Ford in enthusistic tonus. As she read the letter, au dea carne to Mrs. Nugent. In a case like this, whereso much was t stake, she was prompt to act. Sho wrote a noto and sent to Hobcrt iaviland. It was brief : 'Will you cali to-night? 1 wish losee ou on linth's account.' That night Robert called. Bírs. Kuent was hardly at oase. She had a dlfOlllt pieco of Work to do; diflicuH, beause, to be satisfaotory. it must bc delicatelv done. 'Yoi havo heard from Ruth,1 he said, breaking the silence that had fallen upon thern. 'Yes,1 auswered Mrs. Nugent, turning her wedding-ring round and round on her linger, 'f have heard from Ruth.' Agaiñ in enibarrasing silonco lilled the room. Robert begau to wonder wfaftt was coming. Something was back of Ihis constraint, and the uncertainty of what it was made him nervous and restlessi ]lo got up, incbt'iitlv, and walken across the room to t liu ])iano. it was still opon, and the book íroin which he and Ruth had súng together stood upon the rack. He turned a few jiagos in an :iiniles way. Thon he faced Mrs. Nugent suddenly: 'You wislied to see me on Ruth's acoount!' he said. 'Yes,' answeivd Mrs. Nugent, twistug her Bngera nervously among the frítige of tier divss-trimmings. -1 I ilnii'l know how to sav whal I suppose 1 must,' sha eriadi ith a kind of d,esperation in her face and voico. 'lluh had ih righl t ask nu; tu do thw. SSe OUghtto have wriltrii to you.' Mrs. Nugent had told a delibérate falsehood. She had given him to understand that what was to follow Ruth had imposed upon her. The eonsciouanett of what she had dona frighlened'her a little. bul she was eool enough to rèflect upon it. after it was done, as a skillful little piece of diplomacy. 'Then she bas asked you to do somothing? Am 1 eoneerned in the transaction?' Roliert came and stood beside hei chair. She turned herhead a little as il to avoid the light. Really, she could nol bear to meet Ba eyes. It seemed as i thev must detect the falsehood and decéit in whal she was to sav. 'Yea,' you an conoemedf' answerei Mrs. Nugent. 'Lot me read you what Ruth wrotc about Mr. Ford, first. That will preparé yóu, as it dld me, for what follows.' . Mrs. Nugont congratulated herself ou another creditable bit of iinosse. She had given liini to understand that Huth's letter proceded Aunt Rachel'g. She read what Ruth liad written about Artlmr Ford. 'You seo liow euthusiastic sho is over him?' 'Yes,' auswered Robert, gravely. 'Now I will read you part of her aunfs letter,1 said Mrs. Nugent, unfoldino- the slieet with nervous liugers. 'Oh, Mr. Haviland!' withalittle geeture of disgust, as if the affair was ropulsive to her, 'you won't blame me for this? You C.ill'r, SlnCO It lui bt-t-n funrl upon me. As I said, Ruth ought not to have asked it of me. You were the ons for her to go to.1 'If you were a.sked to act as agent for Ruth, how can I blame you?' lic answered. '1 am utterly in the dark, Mrs. Nugent. Picase satisfy the curiosity you have aroused.' I will do so ' Mrs. Nngent read, in a quavering little voice, part of her siater-in-ïaw's letter. She was careful to read only what would give him to uuderstand, with what she had already s:iicl and was to say. that the proposed marriage woiüd be looked apon favorably by Ruth, if she could only bo satislied that Robert Haviland dld uot consider her bound to him by any taoit engagement. 'It is a vciT delicate matter,' she aid, when slio had finished reading the etter, and replaced it in its enrelope. Yery delicate for me to talk with you ibout, and eepecially so tor Ruth, since, is 1 infer, there is 110 nngagement existng between you. Tbftt explains. I nippose, why she could nol write to ,ou. ' 'Let me see if I nnderstand the mat,er clearly.' Eobert said, brushlng his land acrosa hU brow, as if bewildeared. It is so sndden, so- so- unexpected. Miss Nugent invited liutli and this Mr. Ford to visit her. hoping to effect a marriage between them. They like sach otïier, but Ruth tells her aunt that ïlie eannot do as she wishes, and gives her reason to think, frum what shesays, that she considera herself in honor, if not by words, bound to- to me. Uut as I infer, frora what yon have said, you have been asked to ascertain my views on the subject. If I ara willing lo forego all claims, there will be no difticulty in the way of Miss Nugent's earrying out her plans successfulTy. Am I rightï Is that what I am expected to understandP' 'I suppose it is,1 answered Mrs. liugent, never once lifting her eyes to his face. 'Its a miserable allair. I wish I had refnsed to have anyUiing to do with it.' He walked to the wiudow, and slood fchere for some lime. 'Yon can teil Ruth" -he said, by and by, coming back to her chair. 'I want to teil her notbing,' answered Mrs. Nugent. 'Whateyer you have to teil her, were better told by yourself.' 'I shall not see her,' hè said. 'lshall leare for the west to-morrow.' 'To begcmelong?' asked Mrs. Nugent, with elation. Her plans were wotkím more suecessfully than she had dared hope. She saw 'that by his face. 'I eannot teil how long I shall Btay there,' he replied. '1 havo been otl'ered a position on a newspaper in Chicago, if I could begin work iminedialely. 1 had intended, until within the last few minutes, to declino the offer. Now 1 have decided to accept il.' 'ïhen if you have anything to say to her, write it,' said Mrs. Nugtmt. 'Ihave done what I was forced by circumstances to do. I care to have no moro to do in the nifttter. lic went to the writing-desk whieh gtood on the table, and wTOte a few words. Yon causead thatto hor," he said. His voicc had a different sound in it irom anything Mrs. Nrgent liad ever heard before. A light had gone out of his face. He leemedto have grown old, suddenlv. 'Woll, good-night, good-bye,' ho addcd, and gave her his hand. Slie touch cd it lighfly. Sho did not fee] lik ihaking hands cordially withthe man she liail deccived so cviielly. A reoollection of sonicMiing she had read, years ago, in an old-fasliioned book ealled the liiblo, eame into her mind,- something about a man and woman, wliosc names were Ananiai and Sapphfra. 'Good-bye,' sho said. 'I hope you don't blamo Ruth too severely. She was probably influenced by her aunt's wishes.1 'Oh, not at all,' he answered, coldly, and falsely as well, for he could nol help lilam'ing her. 'She is only oonsultinr her uw liesl interests. 1 was mistaken n her, andit lmrts a little to Bnd t ont Good-nlght.' pro be'cqxtincbi).]

Article

Subjects
Ann Arbor Courier
Old News